Jaimie Trueblood/The CW; Patrick Ecclesine/The CWHe's a goner.
Sources close to the CW's 90210 confirm that Rob Estes will not be a part of the show next season.
Though widespread reports have it that Rob has "quit" the CW remake, I'm hearing there's more to the story, which also may explain Jennie Garth's departure...
According to insiders close to the negotiations, Estes is leaving the series because he could not agree on compensation for the upcoming season with the CW. I'm told the show's producers ultimately were willing to let Rob go because executive producer Rebecca Kirshner and her creative team would like to focus more on the younger castmembers (AnnaLynne McCord, we're looking at you) and less on the older—particularly those who starred on the original 90210 and Melrose Place series (such as Jennie and Rob).
"They just don't want the old people on the new show anymore," one CW insider tells me of the show's bosses, while another source adds that producers are simply "trying to establish a separate identity for the new show."
The CW has no official comment on Estes' exit yet, but is expected to release a statement later today.
As for what's next for Jennie, whose 90210 departure was confirmed last week, Jennie herself tells me that she has "lots of irons in the fire," including a children's book, work with the American Heart Association and a new small-screen project with a certain Twilight star with whom she just so happens to be married.
"My husband [Peter Facinelli] is writing a script we're developing for television," Jennie tells me.
Who needs that silly ol' ZIP code after all?
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Will you miss Jennie and Rob on 90210, or do you think the producers are doing the right thing?